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Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu says his administration is investing in digital technology to sustain small businesses, expand opportunities across sectors, and propel Nigeria to become the lodestar of information and communications technology in Africa. Speaking when he received a delegation from Meta Platforms Incorporated, led by former UK Deputy Prime Minister and Meta’s President of Global Affairs, Sir Nick Clegg, at the State House in Abuja on Thursday, the President said Nigeria couldn’t afford to be left behind in this age of technological advancements. In light of this, his administration is opening up channels of opportunities in information and communications…

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Ghana is considering granting SpaceX’s Starlink approval to provide internet connectivity within the country, according to the Minister of Communications and Digitalisation Ursula Owusu Ekuful, during a recent parliamentary meeting. This reconsideration comes after the National Communication Authority’s (NCA) warning on 7th December 2023, which prevented the sale and operation of Starlink devices due to the provider’s failure to obtain necessary licenses and approvals. However, in light of a recent internet outage affecting many African countries, including Ghana, the government is reevaluating its stance. The outage, caused by damages to subsea cables, impacted mobile network operators, internet service providers, and…

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Meta’s Instagram has resumed service for most users after an outage on Thursday, 21st March, which lasted over three hours, and left thousands of users unable to access the popular photo-sharing platform. According to data from Downdetector.com, the number of reported outages has decreased to from 5,000 to around 400, with the majority of complaints centred around login issues on the app. This recent outage follows a similar incident in early March that affected both Instagram and Facebook, also owned by Meta Platforms. During that outage, which lasted over two hours, more than 550,000 reports of disruptions were registered for…

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Apple has found itself in a legal battle against the US Department of Justice which, alongside 15 states, filed a lawsuit on Thursday, accusing the tech giant of exploiting its dominance in the smartphone market to inflate prices and weaken competition. The lawsuit contends that Apple’s business model, which has historically revolved around charging users a premium for its products while tightly controlling how the devices can be used, has given the company an unfair advantage. The Justice Department aims to challenge this model by pushing for greater user choice in how apps interact with Apple’s hardware. Attorney General Merrick…

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Kenya’s Interior Minister, Kithure Kindiki, has announced the country’s demand for TikTok to obey local privacy and user verification laws, citing concerns over the platform’s role in spreading propaganda, perpetrating fraud, and distributing inappropriate content. According to Kindiki, TikTok, along with other social media platforms, has come under scrutiny from regulators worldwide to ensure its users are protected from harmful content and criminal activities enabled through these platforms. “The government, through the office of the Data Protection Commissioner, has contacted TikTok and raised concerns relating to its processing activities,” Kindiki stated during a parliamentary committee session on Thursday, 21st March.…

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Uber has begun raising concerns about an agreement struck between ride-hailing platforms and Nigeria’s Lagos State Government (LASG), which calls for the ride-haling platforms to share user data with the LASG. According to a source familiar with the matter, while rival platform, Bolt, has agreed to the LASG’s terms, Uber has been reluctant to comply with the agreement. The agreement, which was part of ride-hailing regulations introduced in 2020, mandated ride-hailing companies to grant backend access to user trips and location data for planning, revenue, and security purposes. Recently, the LASG escalated the situation by demanding real-time trip details from…

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In the heart of Africa’s growing digital landscape, data centers have become pivotal pillars, propelling economies forward and driving innovation across the continent. At the forefront of this transformative journey stands the Regional Executive for West Africa at Africa Data Centres, Dr. Krishnan Ranganath. With a vision that extends far beyond mere technological advancement, Dr. Krishnan champions not only the growth of the industry but also the nurturing and empowerment of Africa’s vibrant youth. In this exclusive interview with Digital Economy magazine Dr Krishnan share insights on data centers, and impact of Africa Data Centres in shaping Africa’s digital economy…

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Ghana’s National Communications Authority (NCA) has announced the reinstatement of the Digital Television Receiver Conformance Regime, which mandates that all Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) and Digital Satellite Television (DTH) receivers, must undergo a conformance test and acquire certification before being sold in the country. Consumers are advised to look for specific conformance logos on all receivers, including set-top boxes and integrated digital TV sets, sold in Ghana. These logos come in two types: standard definition (SD) and high definition (HD), providing clarity on the quality of the receiver. Additionally, the NCA stressed that the logos must be attached to…

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M-Pesa Safaricom has collaboated with Onafriq, Africa’s largest digital payments network, to streamline remittance flows into Ethiopia. The agreement will enable Ethiopians to receive money from abroad directly through M-Pesa, the popular mobile financial service that doesn’t require a traditional bank account. This development comes as remittances to sub-Saharan Africa reached $54bn in 2023, an increase from the previous year, according to the World Bank. Ethiopia has seen particularly strong growth in remittance inflows. While remittances play a vital role in poverty reduction and bolstering GDP, Ethiopia’s share remains relatively low. Ethiopian diaspora director general Mohammed Endris has stressed that…

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Flutterwave, Africa’s leading payments technology company, has been ranked No. 1 in Fast Company’s Most Innovative Company for Europe, Middle East, and Africa 2024, joining others like Nvidia, Open AI, or YouTube on the list. This year’s list shines a spotlight on businesses that are shaping industry and culture through their innovations. These organizations are setting new standards and achieving remarkable milestones in all sectors of the economy. Alongside the World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies, Fast Company recognizes 606 organizations across 58 sectors and regions. “We’re thrilled to be recognized as No. 1 in the Most Innovative Company Europe, Middle…

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